Sheffield Wednesday Harry Gray Leeds United Daniel Farke
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Sheffield Wednesday and Henrik Pedersen are hugely important in the development of Leeds United loanee Harry Gray currently.
The recently turned 18-year-old joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan to gain regular senior football and continue his progression away from Elland Road, but his start to life at Hillsborough has not quite gone to plan.
Harry Gray has shown flashes of his ability, yet opportunities have become harder to come by in recent weeks. With Leeds watching his progress closely, the forward needs to force his way back into Pedersen’s starting XI and show exactly why the club have such high hopes for him.
Harry Gray needs to force his way back into Sheffield Wednesday's XI
Leeds United's Largie Ramazani, Harry Gray, and Wilfried Gnonto celebrate promotion to the Premier League
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Gray has not had the smoothest introduction to life at Hillsborough, although some of the circumstances have been outside his control. Injury concerns have disrupted his progress, with the forward having suffered a head issue and gone through concussion protocol recently during his time with Sheffield Wednesday.
That has inevitably made it harder for him to build momentum, while Louie Barry started the campaign well in one of his preferred roles, and Jamal Lowe in the other. Nevertheless, Gray has now come off the bench in his last two league appearances, meaning he needs to use the international break as an opportunity to reset and return ready to challenge for a starting berth in League One.
Because of England U-19 duty, he was not able to be part of the squad for this week's EFL Trophy win over Sunderland's U-21 team, which is another reason why Leeds will absolutely be watching closely. It would have been an excellent opportunity to start him and build up confidence and belief in him.
Gray was not one of the seven substitutes utilised by Pedersen to win the game 2-0, and with Daniel Farke and those at Elland Road needing to see genuine progress from one of their most highly-rated young forwards, this disrupted start lacking rhythm has to have been a real frustration for the coaches and hierarchy at Elland Road.
His surname and family history will not be enough to earn him a place in Leeds' first-team plans. Gray needs to produce at senior level, whether that means scoring goals, creating chances, or consistently influencing matches at League One level and above.
A successful loan is about proving he can do it away from the comfort of academy football — and he needs to start doing that in South Yorkshire in the run of games after this extended international break, having put his head injury behind him. He started two of the England youth games, but is now needing starts in the league.
Harry Gray's famous Leeds United family are why there are high expectations of him
Harry Gray
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There is no shortage of expectation surrounding Gray given his background. His older brother Archie is at Tottenham Hotspur and is captaining England U-21s regularly now, having previously broken through at Leeds before making the move to north London.
Harry also has a remarkable family connection to Elland Road, with his grandfather Frank Gray and great uncle Eddie Gray both regarded as Leeds legends, while his father Andy also represented the club.
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Harry Gray's clubs Appearances Goals Assists
Leeds United U-18 12 8 unknown
Leeds United U-21 22 15 2
Leeds United 1 0 0
Rotherham United (loan) 20 3 1
Sheffield Wednesday 6 0 0
Kieffer Moore and Kyle Walker - Championship over 30s
Kieffer Moore and Kyle Walker - Championship over 30s
Those links inevitably make Harry's development an interesting storyline for Leeds supporters, but his ability has always been the main reason for the excitement. He scored prolifically at U-21 level for Leeds before earning a loan move to Rotherham United on loan last season.
Back in South Yorkshire again, and back in League One again, they are intent on ensuring he gains further valuable senior experience. Now, though, he needs to take another step forward and establish himself under Pedersen with Wednesday as he did with the Millers last term.
Leeds United may need to consider another loan destination for Harry Gray
Daniel Farke Leeds United
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If Gray is still struggling for starts by January, Leeds may have to consider whether Wednesday remains the best environment for the next stage of his development. He needs regular minutes and, increasingly, goals and assists, whether that comes as a central striker or from the flank.
The latter could become particularly relevant with Barry facing a spell on the sidelines. That injury potentially opens the door for Gray to become Wednesday's primary left-sided option and gives him an excellent opportunity to force his way into Pedersen's strongest XI between now and January or, even better, by the next international break.
Playing alongside Sheffield Wednesday's best players is undoubtedly beneficial, particularly given the quality of the squad assembled by David Storch and the club's hierarchy during an impressive summer. But if Gray cannot capitalise on that opportunity, Leeds may have to look elsewhere in January for a club with less quality but where he can start more consistently.
His name will get him noticed, but it will not get him into Farke's plans in the next year or two — his performances in the loan spells over the coming years will.